Battery Show Stuttgart | June 02-06, 2025 | We are exhibiting together with LXinstruments.

Instruments

Potentiostats

The importance of electrochemistry and electrochemical processes in science, research and industry is closely linked to the development of electrochemical measuring instruments, the potentiostats. On the one hand, a potentiostat “provides” the necessary driving force or activation energy to accelerate reactions and make them tangible, on the other hand, current and voltage measurement results in a diverse and precise analysis of reaction kinetics and stoichiometry.

A potentiostat not only combines current and voltage supply with current and voltage measurement, it is also the Swiss army knife for electrochemistry-based methodology due to its highly precise and adapted measurement technology. Basic information on how potentiostats work can be found here.

Operational amplifier (OPA)

The heart of a potentiostat is the Operational Amplifier (OPA), which acts as a differential amplifier, balancing the two input signals from the Working Electrode (WE) and the Reference Electrode (RE) and releasing a corresponding current flow to the counter electrode for matching. As long as the potential difference between the working and reference electrodes does not correspond to the desired value, the OPA controls the current flow through the cell between the counter and working electrodes.

Single-channel potentiostats / galvanostats

A potentiostat is an electrical measuring device used in electrochemistry. In principle, it is the special design of a control amplifier that can measure via the following three electrodes:

Working electrode
High-resistance reference electrode
Counter electrode.

The potentiostat maintains a constant electrical voltage between the working electrode and the reference electrode via an electrical current between the counter electrode and the working electrode. The potentiostat regulates the electrical voltage and measures the electrical current, and outputs the corresponding measured values. With galvanostats, an electric current is applied and the corresponding voltage is measured

The main application for potentiostats/galvanostats is the investigation of chemical reactions that take place in electrochemical cells, such as the best known, electrolysis. Potentiostats/galvanostats are also used to characterise batteries or fuel cells or electrodes and electrolytes (solids and ion-conducting liquids), for example in analytics.

In addition to measurements with a constant potential, potentiostats can usually also perform various signal curves such as potential ramps or potential pulses or be coupled with an internal signal generator and thus be used for cyclic voltammetry, for example. Impedance measurements can also be carried out using a superimposed alternating voltage or current.

Ivium: PocketStat, CompactStat, IviumStat and Vertex Familie

Ivium has four different product groups in use. These generally differ in terms of different voltage and current maxima and different additional options. Furthermore, the CompactStat and IviumStat have a 24 bit A/D converter for better accuracy. Both current and voltage can be significantly increased by using appropriate boosters. More information directly from Ivium.

PalmSens: Small, handy and robust

The potentiostats/galvanostats from Palmsens are characterised by simple, user-friendly software that includes all common methods of physical chemistry. The compact design of the EmStat4 and Palmsens4 series is characterised by a simple design. The Sensit series has been supplemented by the Sensit Wearable. This device is perfectly suited for the development of biosensors.

More details directly from PalmSens.

OrigaLys: Laboratory potentiostats / galvanostats with a wide voltage range

The ‘all in one’ OrigaStat product range enables the direct connection of an RDE, a pH probe and a temperature probe without corresponding measuring devices - in other words, ‘all in one’. In addition, all devices have a wide compliance voltage range of up to +35 V with a control voltage of +15 V.

The same applies to the OrigaFlex series. The major difference is the current range, which can be up to 10 A and offers the option of connecting the devices to a multi-channel system.

Important for users of Voltlab devices from Radiometer. The OrigaMaster software can read and analyse the measurement data from the VoltaMaster software.

More details directly from OrigaLys.

Kolibric: Potentiostats / Galvanostats for the limits of impedance

Kolibrik's devices represent a new level of impedance spectroscopy, as described in more detail in the Impedance chapter.

The measurement of impedances up to 0.00001 Ohm is possible with the devices from Kolibrik. Of course, the usual electrochemical methods can also be carried out. The products are complemented by DC/DC converters and cell voltage monitors.

More information directly from Kolibrik.

Multi-channel potentiostats

Another aspect that is emerging as a result of the microelectronic architecture of modern potentiostats is the development of multi-channel devices. By minimising the hardware dimensions, several measuring channels can be accommodated in a still compact housing. Multi-channel potentiostats therefore increase the measurement throughput and the overall speed of research. In addition, the price per measuring channel is sometimes significantly reduced, so that it can also be an economic decision to rely on a multi-channel potentiostat.

Origalys: Multi-channel potentiostat on a modular basis

EKT Multi-channel potentiostat on a modular basis by Origalys

The modular idea is taken up by Origalys, but by not using a common housing, the modules remain usable individually. The combination of different specifications is nevertheless possible. The products can be found in the shop of our parent company LXinstruments.

Palmsens: MultiPalmSens4 connected to a computer

EKT Potentiostats MultiPalmSens4 connected to a computer

PalmSens combines the individual hardware modules of PalmSens4 and EmStat4 to MultiPalmSens4 and MultiEmStat4. This results in exactly the same specifications as the single channel model. Especially the MultiEmStat4 offers a lot of channel and performance for the money. Product details can be found here.

Ivium: IVIUMnStat multi-channel potentiostat

There are two versions of the multi-channel units by Ivium: The OctoStat, as 30 or 200mA or 5A unit with 8 channels each and the n-Stat series with plug-in modules. A single housing can be equipped with different modules in countless variations. OctoStat models are particularly relevant for investigations of electrochemical energy systems, such as batteries and fuel cells. Due to the multiplicity of the measuring channels, a particularly favourable price/channel ratio can be achieved. n-Stat models are aimed at users of flexible measurement technology, as different module specifications can be combined depending on the requirements. Product details can be found here.

Kolibrik: MegaEIS based on Kolibrik potentiostats

The MegaEIS system is a precise, modular test device for the impedance analysis of fuel cell stacks, electrolysers and batteries. The system consists of a power stage that manages the power and an EIS acquisition system that can perform an impedance spectroscopy analysis on all cells simultaneously.

In fuel cell stacks, the power stage is made up of load modules. A stack can comprise up to 1,000 cells and supply a current of up to 2 kA.

In electrolysers, the power stage is extended by an internal or external power supply so that the system functions as a regulated current source and can perform EIS measurements.

Impedance acquisition is performed in parallel, making the system suitable for fast and precise analyses in

research and development,
quality assurance in production or
in service diagnostics.

MegaEIS also offers DC cell voltage monitoring and enables characterisation using important electrochemical methods such as polarisation curves, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry, load cycling, current interruption technique, etc.

Further information directly from Kolibrik.